Hybrid Q-switched broadband laser source with low timing jitter

Opt Express. 2012 Jan 16;20(2):1202-12. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.001202.

Abstract

We present a novel broadband laser source based on a dual cavity in which a subnanosecond passively Q-switched microchip laser is coupled with a long cavity including an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) and a microstructured optical fiber working as a non linear medium. This active-passive Q-switched laser source emits pulses as short as those emitted by the free running microchip laser (~600 ps). The time pulse emission is governed by the AOM allowing tunable repetition rate from 0 to more than 4 kHz with a temporal jitter reduced to less than 50 ns, i.e. a 600-fold reduction compared to that of the free running microchip. Furthermore, thanks to spectral broadening in the microstructured fiber, this source emits a supercontinuum from 700 nm to 1700 nm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Flow Cytometry / instrumentation*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Lasers*
  • Manufactured Materials
  • Miniaturization
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*